EU funding
The European Union (EU) has been supporting sustainable urban development in European cities since 1994. Since then, the city of Chemnitz has invested a total of EUR 43 million in 7 neighbourhoods to improve living conditions and the structural situation.
EU funding for the sustainable, integrated urban development of urban areas comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and, since 2016, also from the European Social Fund (ESF).
The New Leipzig Charter of 2020 focuses on the common good orientation of cities. The common good includes reliable public services of general interest and the reduction or even avoidance of new forms of inequality in social, economic, ecological and spatial terms. The urban dimension in the neighbourhoods includes the integration of the social, ecological and economic dimensions of sustainable development. For this reason, various decision-making levels from the municipal level to the EU have agreed to continue funding urban development at neighbourhood level from the Structural Funds until 2027.
City of Chemnitz receives ERDF funding
European Union and Free State of Saxony once again support urban development
On 13. On 13 September 2023, Mayor Ralph Burghart received the decisions on behalf of the City of Chemnitz to support integrated, sustainable urban development in the three new ERDF areas "Chemnitz Mitte", "Zwickauer Straße" and "Altchemnitz" from Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Minister of State for Regional Development Thomas Schmidt. The EU is using the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), supplemented by funding from the Free State of Saxony, to support numerous projects aimed at climate protection, urban ecology and the economic and social revitalisation of these neighbourhoods with funds totalling €12.2 million until 2027.
Together with additional funds from the City of Chemnitz, urban development funding and private investment, this means that €36 million will be channelled into around 30 projects. For example, a fund to support small businesses in the neighbourhoods and a maker workshop are once again planned. In addition, the upgrading of Zwickauer Strasse is planned, including pocket parks on vacant lots. In Altchemnitz, a brownfield site is to be developed into an industrial estate and renewable energy is to be generated on roofs. In the "Mitte" area, projects include urban greenery projects with an association, the development of further construction phases of the "Stadtwirtschaft" as a creative location for the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, the expansion of the district heating network and the redesign of the "Stadtwirtschaft".The projects being funded in the "Centre" area include the expansion of the district heating network and the redesign of the Markusstraße axis into the "Sonnenberger Promenade", as well as projects on waste avoidance, heat protection and accessibility at social facilities.
Announcement of further funding until 2027
At its meeting on 14 September 2022, the City Council passed resolution B-173/2022 on the City of Chemnitz's area-based integrated action plan (GIHK) for the funding of ERDF and ESF PLUS areas until 2027. The action plan is the basis for applying for EU funding from the Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB).
The City of Chemnitz has submitted funding applications for the following 5 new areas:
- ERDF area Zwickauer Straße
- ERDF area Altchemnitz
- ERDF area Chemnitz city centre
- ESF area Chemnitz centre
- ESF area Chemnitz South 2.0.
ERDF 2007-2013 programme
Sonnenberg and Reitbahnviertel urban development areas
In the 2007-2013 funding period, ERDF funding was used to support two city neighbourhoods in particular in the Sonnenberg and Reitbahnviertel development areas. The EU and the City of Chemnitz supported a wide range of measures and projects with many committed organisations.
In the revitalisation of brownfield sites, the funding policy focused in particular on inner-city brownfield sites. The aim is to strengthen city centres and reduce land consumption and urban sprawl in the surrounding areas.
ERDF 2014-2020 programme
ERDF-Chemnitz city centre" development area
In December 2015, the city of Chemnitz received the general approval notice for €11.3 million for the "ERDF-Chemnitz city centre" funding area.
The grants are intended to support disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods in the implementation of infrastructural, structural, energy and economic measures and to combat poverty.
European Social Fund for Germany
In June 2016, the city of Chemnitz received the general approval notice for the "ESF - Chemnitz City Centre" funding area with around EUR 1.6 million and for the "ESF - Chemnitz South" funding area with around EUR 0.9 million, so that a wide range of changes can be initiated.
In the selected areas, investment measures for the design of the residential environment, the (energy-efficient) refurbishment of buildings and public facilities as well as urban redevelopment measures have been realised in recent years. The funding from the European Social Fund is intended to supplement these infrastructure measures with projects aimed at improving the employability and participation in social life of disadvantaged neighbourhood residents.